In the 1960's and early to mid 1970's, Carvin bought necks from Höfner, and used them on their own guitars and basses.  Carvin's relationship with Höfner began in the mid-1960's, and would last until the late 1980's.  All Carvin guitars and basses from 1964 until 1978 had bolt on Höfner necks, and the SH225 archtop was made entirely by Höfner and sold under the Carvin name.

Note the following guitars:

Above is a Höfner 1962 model 172 guitar.  The neck, fingerboard inlays and headstock shape are identical to the Carvin necks of 1969. 

This is a 1964 Höfner 191i double-neck.   In this example, the necks are different than the Carvin model #41 (below), but the bodies are identical, all the way down to the slight outward angle of the necks.

Guitars

As the 60's came to a close, Carvin offered a surprisingly large selection of guitars.  There were two basic models, a solid-body electric and a semi-hollow electric, but these both had variants with different electronic configurations.  There were also doublenecks, steel guitars and mandolins to round out the line.

Click each picture for a larger version.

First up is the Model #35-SGC Spanish guitar (left).  Even in the late 60's, Carvin referred to electric 6 string instruments as "Spanish" guitars, although this was actually a standard regular 6-string electric.  This model was constructed from a maple Hofner neck with rosewood fingerboard and a maple body with a sunburst finish.  Electronics consisted of a pair of Carvin AP-6 pickups, with dual volume and tone controls and three-way selector switch.  The manufacturer of the tuners, bridge and tailpiece was not specified, although a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece was available as an option (shown at right).  Base price on the #35-SGC was $129.90 with a standard bridge/tailpiece assembly, and the Bigsby was an additional $29.90.  The #21-SGC hardshell case was an additional $24.90. 

Next is the semi-hollow model #36-ASGC guitar (right).  This guitar had the same electronics and neck of the #35-SGC, with a body constructed of maple with a spruce top.  The #36-ASGC sold for $149.90 with a conventional Bigsby tailpiece, and the optional Bigsby vibrato was an additional $29.90.  It was also available in a left-handed model, #39-LSGC, for $159.90.  The #31B deluxe hardshell case was $43.00.

The model #65-SGC Spanish guitar (right) was similar to the #35-SGC, but it had three AP-6 pickups, versus 2 as on the #35.  Controls consisted of a master volume and tone, and an on/off switch for each pickup, which allowed 7 different combinations of pickups to be in use at once.  Like other Carvin guitars of the era, the neck was made by Höfner with a rosewood fingerboard (see sidebar, right), and the body was maple with sunburst finish.  The #65-SGC sold for $169.90, and the Bigsby vibrato was an additional $29.90.  The #21-SGC case sold for $24.90.

The model #12-B (left) was a twelve string equivalent of the model #35-SGC.  Body construction, neck and electronics were identical to it's 6-string counterpart (although the headstock shape was obviously different).  This model sold for $149.90, plus $26.90 for the model #23 hardshell case.

There was also a 12-string version of the #36-ASGC semi-hollow guitar called the model #38-ASG (right).  Construction and electronics were the same as the 6-string, with the exception that a Bigsby vibrato was not offered.  It sold for $159.90, plus $43.00 for the #31B hardshell case.

The model #37-ASGB guitar (left) was a basic semi-hollow model, with a single AP-6 pickup, and single volume and tone controls.  The maple Höfner had Kluson tuners with ivory buttons, and a rosewood fingerboard with double-dot inlays.  This entry-level model sold for $110.00.

Carvin offered three doublenecks in 1969, the model #11 guitar/mandolin (near right), the model #41 guitar/bass (far right) and the model #42 12/6 guitar (not shown).  All these models had Höfner necks, Carvin AP pickups and maple bodies.  All these models were finished in sunburst.  The model #41 guitar/bass sold for $229.90, the model #42 6/12 string sold for $249.90, and the model #11 guitar/mandolin sold for $229.90.  The Bigsby vibrato was available on the 6-string neck for an additional $29.90.

Carvin also offered an electric mandolin in 1969, the model #3-MB (left).  This instrument had a solid body with male bolt-on neck, single AP-4 pickup with volume and tone controls and Kluson tuners.  It sold for $99.90, plus $19.90 for the #2-MA case.

There were also lap steep guitars to choose from, in 6 and 8 string, and single and doubleneck varieties.  On the far left is the model #6DHG-5C 6-string lap steel.  Like other Carvin lap steels, it was constructed of maple, with a single AP-6 pickup, volume and tone controls, cast nut and tailpiece, chrome trim and ivory tuning pegs.  Scale length was 22.5" on all lap steels.  The #6DHG-5C sold for $59.90, and the model #8DHG-5C 8-string model (near left) sold for $79.90.

There were also doubleneck steels to be had.  These models had the same quality construction features as their single-neck counterparts, in a double-6 or double-8 configuration.  The model #6606-A (near right) sold for $99.90, and the model #8806-A (far right) sold for $129.90.

Interestingly, there were more instruments offered by Carvin than just guitars and basses in 1969.  As they had done off and on throughout their history, Carvin was an authorized reseller of instruments made by other manufacturers.  On the left is the Mark VII organ, which was made by Rheem (known now primarily for air conditioners!).  Direct price on this item was $549.90.

If an accordion was more your style, Carvin offered those, as well - in this case, made by Sonola.  They offered two models, the 152X-S Mini Grand, which sold for $299.90, and the $152X-M Baby Grand which was $319.90.